Therapist credentials explained

The license titles and abbreviations that appear on listings in Tennessee, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Florida, grouped by profession. Each one is described from the board or statute that defines it. To check a license, see how to verify a therapist's license.

Jump to: counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, addiction counseling. Titles differ by state, so each entry names the state that uses it.

Counseling

LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor (Tennessee): A counselor license without the mental health service provider designation. The board's fact sheet says the holder may practice independently but may not assess or diagnose under the DSM, or treat a DSM diagnosis. Source
LPC/MHSP, Licensed Professional Counselor with mental health service provider designation (Tennessee): The board's fact sheet says the holder may diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and may practice independently. Source
Temporary license for LPC/MHSP applicants (Tennessee): The board's rules say it is issued to an applicant who has finished the coursework and passed the National Counselor Examination, and it covers work only under an approved supervisor. Source
LCMHCA, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (North Carolina): A restricted license for gaining experience under supervision. The board says an associate cannot work unless an approved supervision contract is on file with it. Source
LCMHC, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (North Carolina): The board calls it an independent, unrestricted license, held by counselors who have completed at least 3,000 hours of supervised professional practice. Source
LCMHCS, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (North Carolina): The board calls it an independent, unrestricted license that supersedes the LCMHC and includes the board's approval to provide clinical supervision to associates. Source
LPC, Licensed professional counselor (Minnesota): The statute requires a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field, and a plan for supervision during the first 2,000 hours of professional practice. Source
LPCC, Licensed professional clinical counselor (Minnesota): The statute requires 4,000 hours of supervised, post-master's practice in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses and disorders in children and adults. Source
LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Florida): The full license for mental health counselors. The board's page for it describes applicants who have completed two years and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience, the national examination, and all education requirements. Source
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (Florida): A registration for people earning two years of supervised post-master's experience, according to the board. Source

LBSW, Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (Tennessee): A bachelor's level license. The rules say it works in or for an agency, not privately or independently, and is not qualified to diagnose or treat mental illness or provide psychotherapy. Source
LMSW, Licensed Master Social Worker (Tennessee): A master's level license. The rules say it covers supervised practice in or for an agency, not private or independent practice, and may include clinical social work under a licensed clinical social worker as a route to clinical licensure. Source
LAPSW, Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (Tennessee): A nonclinical advanced practice license. The rules say it may be practiced independently outside an agency and does not include holding oneself out as a licensed clinical social worker. Source
LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Tennessee): The clinical license. The rules say clinical social workers may practice outside an agency and are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Source
CSW, Certified Social Worker (North Carolina): A voluntary certification, not a clinical license. The board lists it for non-clinical social work practice, with a bachelor's degree in social work. Source
CMSW, Certified Master Social Worker (North Carolina): A voluntary certification, not a clinical license. The board lists it for non-clinical social work practice, with a master's or doctoral degree in social work. Source
CSWM, Certified Social Work Manager (North Carolina): A voluntary certification, not a clinical license. The board lists it for non-clinical social work practice and requires 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree paid employment. Source
LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (North Carolina): The board says this license is mandatory for clinical social work practice in North Carolina and requires at least 3,000 hours of supervised post-MSW paid clinical employment. Source
LCSWA, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (North Carolina): For social workers who have not yet met the experience requirements for the LCSW. The board says associates document their supervision and practice to it every six months. Source
LSW, Licensed social worker (Minnesota): A bachelor's level license. The statute says the holder may practice social work but must not engage in clinical practice. Source
LGSW, Licensed graduate social worker (Minnesota): A graduate level license. The statute says the holder must not engage in clinical practice except under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker or an alternate supervisor. Source
LISW, Licensed independent social worker (Minnesota): The statute says the holder may practice social work but must not engage in clinical practice except under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker or an alternate supervisor. Source
LICSW, Licensed independent clinical social worker (Minnesota): The statute says the holder may engage in social work practice, including clinical practice. Source
LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Florida): The full clinical license. The board's page for it describes applicants who have completed two years and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience, the national examination, and all education requirements. Source
CMSW, Certified Master Social Worker (Florida): The board calls it an administrative license for social work and says a holder cannot provide clinical services with this designation. Source
Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (Florida): A registration for people earning two years of supervised post-master's experience, according to the board. Source

Marriage and family therapy

LMFT, Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (Tennessee): The board's fact sheet says the holder may diagnose and treat cognitive, affective, and behavioral problems within the context of marital and family systems, and may not prescribe medication. Source
AMFT, Associate licensed marriage and family therapist (Tennessee): For therapists practicing under supervision while earning postgraduate hours. The board says this title replaced the temporary license on January 1, 2026. Source
Licensed marriage and family therapist (North Carolina): The statute defines it as a person holding a license under the state's marriage and family therapy article, as distinct from the associate license, which permits practice only under supervision. Source
Licensed marriage and family therapy associate (North Carolina): The statute says the license permits practice under the supervision of an approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Source
LMFT, Licensed marriage and family therapist (Minnesota): The statute requires a master's or doctoral degree, at least two years of supervised postgraduate experience, and a passed examination. Source
LAMFT, Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (Minnesota): The statute's fee schedule lists this as a separate license. The statute text does not describe its scope, so ask the board what it allows. Source
LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Florida): The full license. The board's page for it describes applicants who have completed two years and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience, the national examination, and all education requirements. Source
Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (Florida): A registration for people earning two years of supervised post-master's experience, according to the board. Source

Psychology

Psychologist, senior psychological examiner, and psychological examiner (Tennessee): The board's rules define these as three separate titles for people who offer psychological services. Therapy Index did not read how the rules rank them, so ask the board what each allows. Source
Licensed psychologist (North Carolina): The title the Psychology Board uses for its psychologist licensees. The pages Therapy Index read do not describe its requirements. Source
LPA, Licensed Psychological Associate (North Carolina): The board says that since October 1, 2025, associates may apply to practice independently after at least 4,000 hours of post-licensure supervised practice and meeting its other requirements. Source
Licensed psychologist (Minnesota): The statute says no one may engage in the independent practice of psychology unless licensed as a licensed psychologist or exempt. Source
Psychologist (Florida): The board lists it as its main license for psychologists. Therapy Index did not read a plain description of its scope, so ask the board what it allows. Source
Limited License Psychologist (Florida): The board says a limited licensee can practice only while employed by qualifying public or nonprofit agencies, and only with indigent, underserved, or critical need populations. Source

Addiction counseling

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Level I (Tennessee): The board's rules say a Level I counselor may provide counseling in a treatment or recovery support program, but not in a private practice in which the counselor is self-employed. Source
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Level II (Tennessee): The board's rules say a Level II counselor may provide counseling in a program or in private practice, and may apply to become a qualified clinical supervisor. Source
LCAS, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (North Carolina): The board says the practice may be independent. The credential is open only to people with a master's degree and a clinical internship. Source
LCAS-Associate, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (North Carolina): A status the board describes for applicants working toward the LCAS, after registration is conferred and 300 practicum hours are signed off. The board says an LCAS-Associate cannot supervise an applicant. Source
CADC, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (North Carolina): A certification for applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent, an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree that does not meet the requirements for the LCAS. It was formerly called CSAC. Source
LADC, Licensed alcohol and drug counselor (Minnesota): The statute reserves this title for people licensed by the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, which uses the abbreviation LADC. Ask the board what the license allows. Source

Guides by state: Tennessee, North Carolina, Minnesota, Florida.

Why a listing's type can differ from its license

The type on a listing comes from the category the clinician chose in the federal NPI registry. The credential after the name is text the clinician entered in the same record, and the license number and state come from the registry record too, until the listing has been checked against the board.

These are separate fields, so they can disagree. A licensed master social worker can appear under "mental health counselor" because that is the category chosen in the registry. Therapy Index reads the registry and does not reassign anyone.

After a check, a listing shows the board's license number. If it differs from the number in the registry, the listing notes the registry's number as well. The credential and license lines, and the board's own lookup, are a better guide than the type.

What "accepting new clients" means on this site

The lamp appears only when a clinician has confirmed, within the past month, that they are taking new clients. When a confirmation gets old, the lamp goes off until it is renewed. In practice, "the past month" is 35 days, and only a claimed listing can show it. See how listings work.

What the license lines on a listing mean

Verified. The board's roster showed the license as active on the date of the check. The line names the board and the date, and gives the expiration date when the board lists one.

Associate or temporary license. The board's roster showed an associate or temporary license, which is a license held while completing the requirements for full licensure, as active. The listing line reads "Verified, Associate or temporary license, active with" the board, with the check date. A card in a list shows the chip "Associate license verified."

Registered intern. In Florida, clinicians who are completing licensure hold a registered intern registration, not an associate or temporary license. A Florida listing says "Registered intern," and the chip reads "Intern registration verified."

Could not be matched. The listing's registry number and name did not line up with the board's roster, or the check could not be completed. The listing says the license is on file with the NPI registry, could not be matched to the board's roster automatically, and should be verified with the board. This is often a typo in the registry, so it is not a finding about the clinician.

Other results. A listing can also say that a license is expired or inactive, in which case it asks you to confirm the current status with the board, or that a board action is on record, in which case it points you to the board's site. A listing with none of these lines has not been checked yet.

Sources last read Nov 11, 2026.